Moraira

Costa Blanca

Spain

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Moraira Travel Guide

El Portet Beach, Moraira

Nestled in a pretty bay on the southeast coast of Spain, the
small Spanish resort town of Moraira is an oasis of traditional
charm on the busy Costa Blanca, a favoured holiday spot and
retirement haven. Moraira has grown from a small fishing village
into an attractive resort surrounded by luxury villas without
losing its Spanish character, which is entrenched in its impressive
marina, variety of shops, colourful weekly markets, atmospheric old
town, and waterfront restaurants and bars. The relaxed traditional
ambience of Moraira is complemented by two main beaches with
European Blue Flag status, separated by a promontory crowned with a
medieval fortress. There are also plenty of sport and leisure
facilities on offer. When it comes to holiday weather in Moraira,
it is one of the best Spanish beach resorts claiming an average 325
days of sunshine a year, and temperatures that stay constantly
pleasantly warm. Fresh sea breezes ensure that it is never
sweltering in summer, and the surrounding mountains protect the
town from the chilly winter winds.

This beach resort is easily accessible, being equidistant (about
62 miles/100km) by motorway from both Alicante and Valencia
airports. For those who enjoy a taste of the high life, it is also
within easy reach by car or bus of the busier, glitzier Costa
Blanca resorts of Javea, Calpe and party-mad Benidorm. The
countryside around the holiday destination of Moraira offers some
lovely scenery dotted with unspoilt villages to explore.

There are no large supermarkets and shopping malls within the
confines of the holiday resort of Moraira itself, but these can be
found not far away in the approaches to the town and surrounding
suburbs. In the main avenues of old Moraira, shoppers are well
catered for with all manner of boutique stores selling local arts
and crafts, souvenirs, holiday gear and bric-a-brac. The most fun
to be had shopping, though, is at the Friday weekly market where
the wares range from fresh fruit to leather goods, pottery and
rugs. Good buys include wicker furniture, handbags and wrought iron
objects. Serious shoppers can make expeditions to the larger
resorts and towns nearby. The street market in Teulada, a few miles
inland, is worth a visit.

Despite being relatively small, central Moraira is equipped with
numerous good quality restaurants, several of them Michelin
starred, offering great value for money. Being a fishing community
with an active fishing fleet that brings home a catch each day it
follows that fresh seafood forms the base of the local cuisine, and
many of Moraira's restaurants offer this in delicious abundance.
For a budget meal look out for the menu del dia (menu of
the day) offered by many restaurants, usually consisting of
different courses with wine and coffee for a set price. 'Workman's
specials' also feature on some menus, offering good value. Most
Spanish bars serve tapas selections during the day, good for a
satisfying local snack meal. Those with diverse tastes will find a
variety of international cuisines among the local establishments,
from English fish and chips to Greek delights, and Indian curry to
pizza.

The nightlife of Moraira is considered sedate compared to some
of the larger and flashier Spanish resorts, but the town buzzes
happily after dark. Many of the restaurants offer live
entertainment of some description, including flamenco dancing and
karaoke, and there are one or two open-air dance venues. The main
club for youngsters is the Costa Sur, just outside of town, which
offers a range of entertaining evenings with foam parties,
striptease and the like. Other Moraira nightlife options include
Saxo Disco and the music pumping Algas Beach Bar. Those who holiday
in Moraira during the months of April, June, July and November will
catch lively fiestas full of local colour and tradition. Calatalud
Drive in the old town is generally closed off during summer and
fiesta nights.

Moraira's lovely beaches offer plenty of fun in the sun, with a
wealth of water sports available. Local leisure facilities include
golf courses and other sports like tennis and squash. Several day
excursions are on offer to places of interest, like the
mountain-top fortress of Guadalest, Europe's largest palm forest,
and the nearby ancient city of Murcia. Families enjoy the Moraira
go-kart track, or an outing to the Aqualandia water park near the
large resort of Benidorm.